Agriculture, war, and dam building have intermittently stimulated the community’s economy, bringing new groups and changing ways of life to Umatilla. In addition to Umatilla’s 3,000 residents, many others have interests in its fate, including the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, nearby towns, legislators, politicians, and environmentalists. As Jodi LaCoursiere of the Umatilla Museum and Historical Foundation noted, Umatilla is truly a place of “blended boundaries.”

This section briefly outlines some of the many challenges faced by Umatilla’s residents and neighbors as they head into the twenty-first century. In addition, “Umatilla Voices” reflect the way things once were, the way they are today, and residents’ and neighbors’ hopes and concerns for the future.

Next Page: Regional Choices: Umatilla’s Economy